Comprehensive Blinds Guide – Types, Measuring Up & Fitting

One way to turn any room into a warm and cosy place to live in is to dress windows stylishly. Blinds not only provide privacy and protection from extremes of cold and heat, but also provide fashionable window treatments that give you just the look you want. Think of window handles and position when planning to hang your blinds in order to get the perfect fit. Our comprehensive guide on blinds types, measuring up and fitting is designed to help you specifically fit roller blinds, but the do-it-yourself steps involved are also applicable to vertical and venetian blinds.

Choosing your blinds

Roller blinds

Roller blinds are versatile and fantastic for any decor. The most common and temperamental of these blinds are cord operated, but you can also find other designs like spring-loaded roller blinds. Choose roller blinds if you want a soft fabric look in your room. For better insulation and total darkness at night, go for blackout roller blinds.

Vertical blinds

Vertical blinds are some of the most affordable window treatments in the market. They are available in a wide range of material like PVC vanes and aluminium louvres, colours and sizes to fit any window. The blinds are a good choice for most windows, but they go especially well in patio doors, French doors, bay windows and over-sized windows.

Venetian blinds

Venetian blinds have horizontal slats one place above another that are highly versatile. The blinds allow you to block light entirely or direct light upwards or downwards to achieve desire soft light effects by adjusting the cord winder. Choose vertical blinds if you want total control of the amount of light entering your room.

Measuring Up

Once you have the right type of blind for your windows, it is time to take measurements for the right fit. Measure the width and length (drop) required to cover the full window using a tape measure. Add at least 25 milimetres allowance on either side of the window, if you are fitting your blinds outside the recess. Buy the closest blind width and cut it to size, if you can’t find the exact width and drop of your window.

Measuring and cutting the roller

If you are fitting your blinds inside your window reveal, you will need to cut the blind roller to the right width. Measure the exact dimensions of the space inside the reveal of your window. Cut the roller about 38 milimetres smaller than the width of the space inside the window reveal to allow space for the cord winder and brackets. Use a hacksaw for cutting and a round file to smooth the roller’s ends. Remember to cover the area you want to cut with masking tape so that the hacksaw does not slip.

Measuring and cutting the blind material

Use the roller you have just cut as your guide for taking measurements and cutting the blind material or fabric. Mark several points along the whole length of the material 1.5 milimetres in from the end of the roller with a pencil. Join the points on the blind material using a ruler or straight batten. Now use a pair of scissors or craft knife to carefully cut the blind fabric into size. Next cut the plastic bar found at the bottom of the blind 12.5 milimetres smaller than the width of the blind material. Insert caps on both ends of the plastic bar and fix the cord winder into place. Your blind is now ready for fitting.

Fitting

Fitting the brackets

Place the blind brackets where you want to install them and mark the screw positions with a pencil or bradawl. You can screw the brackets in place on adjacent walls, window frame or underside of the uppermost part of the window. Drill guide holes and screw in the brackets using blind screws or rawl plugs.

Hanging the blind

Insert the end of the blind with the cord winder into the bracket first. Ensure the insert peg or pin locks securely into the bracket’s insert hole. Move to the opposite end and slot the dummy pin into the other bracket. Congratulations, you are done! Pull the cord winder to raise, lower and work your new blinds as desired.